If you wish to start a career in kitchen design, you may want to seek out online certificates in the field. Certificate programs may be offered through a school's kitchen and bath design or interior design program. These programs tend to be offered partially online and often culminate with an in-person internship for a kitchen design company. Other programs may require that you construct a portfolio of your kitchen designs.

Once you graduate from a certificate program and have two years of experience working in the industry, you may choose to take the national certification exam, which is administered by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). The NKBA includes more than 40,000 professionals and has four types of certification (www.nkba.org). The lowest level of certification is the associate of kitchen and bath designer (AKBD), and you can attain higher levels of certification with additional experience and higher learning.

What Topics Will I Study?

In an online kitchen design or interior design certificate program, you may find yourself learning about computer-aided design (CAD) or hand drafting and how both design types can assist you with your designs. Course topics also cover how to deal with space constraints and building codes. Most programs also include a course on addressing your clients' needs. Typical kitchen design courses can also include the following course topics:

Materials and estimation

Lighting

Kitchen themes

Reading construction documents

What Other Types of Online Programs are Available?

If you're seeking degree programs that incorporate kitchen design into their curriculum, Associate of Science in Kitchen and Bath Design programs are available either as an online or on-campus option. These programs include courses on color and lighting, spatial planning, interior design and CAD. As with a certificate program, associate's programs may require you to complete an internship to assist with building your portfolio. Once you have an associate's degree, you may be able to find a career as a kitchen planner, kitchen sales consultant or draftsperson.